Two of the eight players in a tie for sixth at -2 overall at the halfway point of the U.S. Women’s Open are Moriya Jutanugarn and 2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn. For the sixth consecutive year, and seventh time overall, they are competing together in the championship.
Ariya carded three birdies and two bogeys this afternoon for a second straight 1-under 70 at Champions Golf Club in Houston. With 36 holes remaining, there is one aspect of her game that needs fine-tuning if she is to make a weekend run in the Lone Star State.
“I hit a lot of good shots, but my putting wasn’t working well today and yesterday,” said Ariya, a 10-time LPGA Tour champion. “I’ve been trying to work on it, but it’s not getting better yet. My speed is not that good, and my ball didn’t start on line that much. I’m really happy about my game right now even though I don’t feel like my putting is working well.”
Older sister Moriya fired the first round’s only bogey-free round and followed it up with a 1-over 72 today on the Cypress Creek Course. Despite her younger sister winning the Harton S. Semple Trophy before, it is not a subject of discussion among the Thai sensations. Their contrasting style of play also shapes a more intricate, analytical approach for Moriya this week.
“Everyone wants to play good every week, and of course to win a major, especially a first major for me, it would be big,” Moriya said. “I just want to focus on what I have to do and be present because out here you can’t really be so aggressive and you have to play smart.”
Only two pairs of sisters have ever won USGA championships: Harriot (1906) and Margaret Curtis (1907, 1911, 1912) at the U.S. Women’s Amateur; and Hollis Stacy (1969, 1970, 1971 U.S. Girls’ Junior; 1977, 1978, 1984 U.S. Women’s Open) and Martha Leach (2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur).
Moriya and Ariya will head off No. 1 tee of the Cypress Creek Course at 11:02 a.m. CT tomorrow, with Stacy Lewis rounding out the trio.
MEGAN KHANG SHINES ON DAY TWO IN HOUSTON
Megan Khang quickly erased any memory of a 3-over 38 on Thursday’s back nine, including the double bogey that concluded her round on No. 18 of the Jackrabbit Course. She turned the page on her chapter at the 75th U.S. Women’s Open with a bogey-free, 2-under 69 performance today on the Cypress Creek Course.
“I’ll take that any week, any day, any tournament,” said Khang, who is tied for third at -3 overall. “It’s always a good feeling to be bogey-free and just really hoping to move that into the weekend.”
The 2019 Solheim Cup Team USA member will be part of the penultimate grouping off No. 1 tee on the Cypress Creek Course at 11:24 a.m. CT tomorrow. Khang was pleased that she played the Jackrabbit Course on Thursday, giving her three consecutive days on the championship’s main course, Cypress Creek.
“I was personally very happy when I got the draw because it was nice to get through Jackrabbit the first day then know that I have three days to play Cypress,” said Khang. “I personally really liked it. Everyone here is so good, so I don’t think it actually matters too much. I think it’s just personal preference.
“I want to stay in the moment and just keep doing what we’ve been doing. It’s the 75th U.S. Women’s Open, and you don’t get a lot of them.”
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